WALTER LARRY MARTIN - Services for Larry Martin, 64, of Longview, will be held at First Baptist Church of Longview, Monday, April 27,2009 at 2:00 p.m. with the Reverend Tim Watson officiating.  Burial will follow in Rosewood Park Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Rader Funeral Home.

Our beloved Larry Martin passed away Wednesday, April 22, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas after a lengthy and courageous battle with congestive heart failure.

Born in Lamesa, Texas, on December 9,1944, and graduating from Plainview High School in 1963, he then attended Texas Tech where he received his Bachelor of Advertising Art, Design and Management degree in 1968. While in college he worked as an Administrative Assistant for the City of Plainview receiving his first taste of city government. In 1968 he entered the United States Naval Ordinance School serving two years in air intelligence in Vietnam where he received the U.S. Navy Citation for Meritorious Service. Upon leaving the Navy he returned to Plainview and became Assistant City Manager in 1970.

In November of 1973, he moved to Longview with his wife Peggy to become Assistant City Manager for the next four years. On October 16, 1977, Larry was named to the City Manager position, serving our great city until march 15, 1980, then he stepped down to enter banking. During his 20 years with Texas Bank & Trust he was First Vice-President of commercial lending and then Senior Vice- President. He completed his formal banking education at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at S.M.U., and on October 1, 1999, he joined the team at Southside Bank as a Senior Vice- President.

Beyond his years of guiding Longview through a period od rapid growth. Larry's civic involvement was extensive and productive. A few of the organizations and committees to which he extended his time, love and expertise include, Longview Medical Center, Heart's Way Hospice; Longview 2020; American Heart Association of Longview, American Cancer Society, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Greater Longview United Way, East Texas Builders Association, East Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Pinecrest Country Club, East Texas State University at Texarkana, the Masons (32 Degree Scottish Rite), and First Baptist Church of Longview.

He was preceded in death by his precious wife of 30 years, Peggy Bryant Martin; his father, Clifton Harvey Martin; and his mother Thelma Etta Meeks Martin.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Lynda; his brother, Clif Martin and wife Susan of Austin; his niece, two nephews, aunt, uncle, numerous treasured cousins and extended family; and one angelic Golden Retriever.

The family wishes to express tremendous gratitude for the compassionate and skill care he received from the physicians, nursing and support staff of Baylor Medical Center and Longview Regional Medical Center.

He took great care of you, Longview, and you took great care of him. He has left his mark on our City and in the hearts of so very many people. He loved with integrity and with unparalleled sincerity but above all else he was kind. we will never stop missing you, our dear Mr. Martin.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Hello Marilyn,

This is Lynda Martin, Larry's wife. I am greatly disturbed to have to share this news with you vie e-mail. Larry passed away yesterday, April 22, at 6:53 p.m. at Baylor Medical Hospital in Dallas. He fought a long painful battle that began February 15,. He'd had congestive heart failure for 15 years, but it had been under control with medication up until April 2008 when he had to be hospitalized for 24 hours because he was retaining fluid. After that he was his old self again until last December. We don't know why he weakened so suddenly but the implantation of a Defibrillator on December 30, and even an artificial heart (L.V.A.D.) on April 8, he was still overcome by infections and several other complications. it was a living nightmare that is finally over for him.

It hit me just now that you needed to know and would pass this on to all of the classmates you work so hard to stay in touch with. Again, I apologize for having to deliver this news in this way, especially since you probably had no knowledge that he was even sick.

God bless you and thank you for being his friend. Lynda

Photo from M. Kidd collection.